Cox Cable Cards

Just what is a "digital gateway"? Can they show me one? If I sign up for any level of service, I can tune to channel X and see that service is there that I'm paying for. I just want to know WTF this digital gateway is that I will be paying for. (I wonder what would they give me if I called and said "I want the digital gateway" and then refused any other services...)

Click to expand...

With Cox in OC, CA, the Digital Gateway gets you pay-per-view, the music channels and the guide. These features are included with the Digital Cable Service, so if you pay for the Digital Cable Service, there is no separate line item for the Digital Gateway.

With Cox in OC, CA, the Digital Gateway gets you pay-per-view, the music channels and the guide. These features are included with the Digital Cable Service, so if you pay for the Digital Cable Service, there is no separate line item for the Digital Gateway.

Man, that's bogus. But, the pricing page for AZ does look different than the one for OC CA. On the OC page, a footnote to the Digital Gateway service reads: "** Valid with Limited Basic Service, includes on-screen guide, access to premium channels, indemand pay-per-view, plus 72 music choice channels."

Yes for Cox OC assuming you are still paying for at least the minimum digital cable tier then the charges are (if you are not renting a digital box from them):
CC #1 $1.99 CC rental
CC #2 $1.99 CC rental + $1.59 additional outlet

By returning the Cox DVR I had $9.95 box rental + $4.95 DVR service deducted from the bill
=> Net cable bill is around $9/month less than when I had the Cox DVR

Yes for Cox OC assuming you are still paying for at least the minimum digital cable tier then the charges are (if you are not renting a digital box from them):
CC #1 $1.99 CC rental
CC #2 $1.99 CC rental + $1.59 additional outlet

By returning the Cox DVR I had $9.95 box rental + $4.95 DVR service deducted from the bill
=> Net cable bill is around $9/month less than when I had the Cox DVR

Click to expand...

Yup, I thought I could live with it, I'm going to drop their DVR (even though I've heard they were going to upgrade to TiVo-based software by the end of the year) and pick up two more cable cards; they said my monthly bill will drop by 10 bucks--which will more than cover the multi-discounted monthly for the 2nd Series3 I will put in it's place. The one additional outlet fee I was already paying for their DVR will not change.

Just what is a "digital gateway"? Can they show me one? If I sign up for any level of service, I can tune to channel X and see that service is there that I'm paying for. I just want to know WTF this digital gateway is that I will be paying for. (I wonder what would they give me if I called and said "I want the digital gateway" and then refused any other services...)

Chuckle ... good question.
Others say it's a violation of tier buy-through prohibitions and a way to enforce tier buy-through (and per-outlet) charges and have complained to the FCC about it:
[...]

Click to expand...

While I am not defending Cox, everything I have read said that cable rate regulation is for BASIC cable only. The entries I looked at that you pointed to all talked about basic cable plus add-ons ... if it's not basic cable, then the FCC has no authority (I admit, the whole "buy-through" thing is a bit confusing to me). Clearly if you're using the Series 3 with cablecards, you're not just getting basic cable.

My complaint to my local franchising authority was based on Cox not applying their stated rates consistantly (two outlet fees for one television).

its a rip-off for the digital gateway fee, which is charging you for 2 outlets....between the price of the S3 and the cox charges here in fairfax is why I haven't bought the S3...I will muddle along with H10-250 even though over air locals here suck...so I have to use SD satellite broadcast for locals.

Got the S3 Wed night, called Cox Thursday AM, had an appt for Saturday

Ordered 2 cable cards, was told net dif to the monthly was 4.95 - no breakdown of detail. Two cards two 39.95 install charges, not negotiable.

No problems with what a cable card was or hassles about ordering them. Told me no VoD, guide, music channels. (However music channels still work with CC.)

Guy shows up, order says 1 card. Fortunately he has two. Lots of back and forth with the phone support end gets the cards registered and the channels loaded.

The guy had done some CC installs before, but the back end seemed to be unsure of the actual steps. Also the process requests brand of device - no pick for Tivo, so goes in as the TV - Sony.

Unfortunately the premium channels not showing up on one card. Odd, as the non-premium HD channels are working. Looks like a config problem, but he says card may also be suspect, but needs to get a new one. "I'll be back..." - Had my doubts, but 2 hours later he's back with a new card, which after registration resolved the problem.

Waiting for the bill to see what I really got charged for...

But otherwise pleased with the outcome - strong signal, excellent picture, even on the SD cable channels, better than the box.

I am in HD Nirvana. I had two cable cards installed in my new S3 by Cox today here in Vegas. The install went without a hitch but required a few tries. After four years of HD I finally have an integrated DVR for HD and SD. The last two years I have had a SA 8300HD but I only used it for HD and digital broadcasts. I continued to use my S2 for analog SD. Finally everything is nicely integrated.

One question for the experts. What are the little square rods next to each cable card. One of them is all the way in, and on my second cable card it is sticking out. I started to push it in but the cable card started to come out. What should I do. Both cable cards are working as expected.

i purchased an upgraded S3. I can hear the 750GB drive. While loading the data from Tivo it was very noticeable. Now, a few hours later, it seems a lot quieter. I hope it is not annoying.

They're for extracting the cards; if you have a notebook PC with PC Card (PCMCIA) card slots, it probably has a similar mechanism for popping the cards out. As for whether you can just push the one sticking out in and pop the card out and back in again, I would think you could without ill effect--but I've never done it before. If you do it and the Strip goes dark or the Earth stops turning you'll be sorry

"As for whether you can just push the one sticking out in and pop the card out and back in again, I would think you could without ill effect--but I've never done it before. If you do it and the Strip goes dark or the Earth stops turning you'll be sorry "

So, I called Cox in Phoenix today to get some pricing since pricing seems to be all over the place. The 1st CSR said that the CC's won't be available for the S3 until Feb/Mar. I assured him that they are available now and asked if he could speak to his supervisor. He said "sure", then...click...

So I called back to CSR #2 and think she gave me a pretty good deal:

One time fee of $9.95 + tax (forgot what she said this is for)
One time fee of $15,00 + tax for HD Fee
HD Package along with phone and internet- $112 per month including tax
$12.95 extra for HBO

Comparing to some other deals I've seen, this sounds pretty good. She also said I will receive 40 or so Music Channels which I didn't think were available. Maybe that has changed.

So, I called Cox in Phoenix today to get some pricing since pricing seems to be all over the place. The 1st CSR said that the CC's won't be available for the S3 until Feb/Mar. I assured him that they are available now and asked if he could speak to his supervisor. He said "sure", then...click...

So I called back to CSR #2 and think she gave me a pretty good deal:

One time fee of $9.95 + tax (forgot what she said this is for)
One time fee of $15,00 + tax for HD Fee
HD Package along with phone and internet- $112 per month including tax
$12.95 extra for HBO

Comparing to some other deals I've seen, this sounds pretty good. She also said I will receive 40 or so Music Channels which I didn't think were available. Maybe that has changed.

Is this a pretty good deal?

Click to expand...

You don't have to pay the 'HD Fee' unless you get their STB.

I wouldn't bet on the pricing they quoted you. I have that same triple-play deal which is $99 + hardware. What they don't quote you is the 'digital gateway' fees. The only Cox equipment I have is the two cable cards and the standard digital + 1 (Variety in my case) tier. The HD is included with ANY digital package subscription, but they do need to specificly provision your cablecards for the HD channels.

So my pricing isn't to for off from yours. Does the $130/mo include the tax/fees? She also said that In Demand should be coming at the beginning of next year. What about Music Channels. Do you receive them?

So my pricing isn't to for off from yours. Does the $130/mo include the tax/fees? She also said that In Demand should be coming at the beginning of next year. What about Music Channels. Do you receive them?

Click to expand...

Yes that includes all taxes etc.

I do get the music channels. MTVHD was a plesant suprise. It reminds me of RaveHD on Voom. I was happy to get ESPNHD w/o the sports tier too.

Just got my November Cox bill and can confirm the cable bill went down by $9.43/month. Charges here in Cox, Orange County CA for 2 CableCards for Tivo S3 (with no Cox digital box in the house anymore):
$1.49 additional outlet fee (for 2nd CC - I guess I'm OK with this)
2 * $1.99 for CableCard rentals